On 17 March 44, during an attack on LONKIN, three NCOs went forward
on a recce party. They ran into machine gun fire, one was killed and
one was wounded. The third NCO returned to bring the troop forward.
The troop was immediately heavily engaged by a Japanese machine gun
and took cover behind a paddy bund and prepared to engage the enemy.
The wounded NCO of the recce party was heard to callout about
seventy yards in front. Gunner SAWYER immediately, on his own
initiative, and despite the heavy fire ran to his assistance and
carried the wounded NCO on his shoulder to safety.